The departing Director-General of Health, speaking at today's regular Covid-19 update, says he is planning to take an extended break before putting thought into what to do next.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, who today announced plans to step down from the role, joined Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins at today's Covid-19 media briefing.
Watch it here:
Dr Bloomfield said he was most proud of the way the health system and public service worked so well together to protect the public.
He said the three previous director-generals have also ended their five-year terms early, and he had been thinking for a while about when would be a good time to step down.
"It seems we're at a good point in terms of the pandemic, the response is shifting, I'm also confident that the system is in good hands with the changes that are afoot, and most certainly my family will be very pleased to have a little more of my time."
"It is with very mixed feelings because I work with amazing people, and the hardest thing for me today is going to be talking to my staff on an all-staff Zoom meeting in about an hour's time. I feel very sad."
He said throughout the past two years he has had a huge number of messages from New Zealanders of gratitude and support not just for him but for the team.
"Yes, I still find it a surprise walking down the street and being recognised."
The thing he is most proud of is the health system and public service working so well together to protect New Zealanders.
"Just remembering this is a one-in-100-year pandemic, every country was in the same boat here, and I think that our public service absolutely showed its quality in protecting New Zealanders."
He said some moments were more memorable than others, but hitting such high vaccination rates and being able to protect vulnerable communities had been a highlight.
"It's stressful and the pressure's there, but just to reiterate being the Director-General of Health is actually a pretty big task at any time, the pandemic's created of course an extra challenge there but I have not been doing it alone."
He said he will take an extended break and is not considering running for Parliament - "not a jot".
He said the ongoing pandemic and the coming health reforms will be both a challenge and "an exciting opportunity".
"One of the things I've tried to do right throughout the pandemic is just to be myself, and sometimes that's created different responses. I don't pay too much attention to the negative commentary and I'm thankful and don't expect the positive feedback."
He said the negative feedback was very gendered and "the nature of the feedback I get is nothing compared to what a number of my colleagues who happen to be female get". Something must be done about that, he said.
It's been a huge pleasure working with iwi Māori, he said.
The very first communities to mobilise at the start of the pandemic were iwi Māori, to protect their whakapapa, kaumātua and kuia "because they still had that vivid memory of the pandemic 100 years before".
He said they led the way and continued to do so throughout the pandemic.
Bloomfield said the Ministry of Health will continue to have a role in the future after the new health system comes into place. He said it will be a good time for him to step down as the role will be quite different to the one he took on four years ago.
"I've seen different structures, and the structure can either support or not support the sort of outcomes or objectives that you're wanting to achieve and the purpose of the reforms is to try and get greater consistency, greater equity, and greater efficiency really out of what the system can deliver.
"And so the structural change is a part of that but more important are some of those other things behind it. I think the structures can and will support the direction and the aspirations that the government has for the health system."
Asked if he had any regrets, he said instead there were times every day he thought about things he thought the country could or should have been doing better.
"In terms of regrets, not specifically, except perhaps that I didn't write down what was happening at the time. I must say I was probably too busy but I think I've always remained focused on what are the outcomes we're trying to achieve."
It was a huge decision for the government to put the country in lockdown - to give advice that was the basis for that decision was a "huge thing", he said.
There have been many hundreds decisions since then that have also been big and momentous.
"This is what created the intensity really, was that it was every day, every decision really and every bit of advice, there was a lot at stake."
Dr Bloomfield said he had received a huge range of gifts, including a very nice pair of tie-dyed thunderpants, as well as a beautiful hand-made cushion from Henderson Intermediate.
He plans to do a lot more relaxing and reading, he is "not a big sleeper-inner", and he'll kick off karaoke with 'Friday I'm in Love' by the Cure.
'His entire life has been dedicated to the health and wellbeing of NZers'
Hipkins also took a moment at today's press conference to say a personal thank you to Dr Bloomfield for his work over the past two years.
"As the Director-General of Health Dr Bloomfield has advised the government at every step of our public health response to Covid-19. His workload has been enormous but it hasn't just been related to Covid-19, and in fact his entire life has been dedicated to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders."
He said Bloomfield's advice has "consistently informed and been the basis" of the government's decision making and has saved thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lives.
He said on election night he had just sat down to eat fish and chips, when Bloomfield rang him to tell him there was a case in the community, "so thanks for ruining that for me".
"But I absolutely respect your decision to take a break, it's been an incredible couple of years, you have an opportunity to spread your wings and I know that New Zealanders will join me in saying that you thoroughly deserve that."
If Bloomfield decided to take up playing cards he should get in touch "because you've got a rubbish poker face", he joked.
Free booster dose for teens
Hipkins has also revealed today that from tomorrow, teenagers aged 16 and 17 can receive a free booster dose at least six months after completing their primary course.
"This decision is great news and means that from tomorrow, around 36,000 rangatahi aged 16 and 17 years will be eligible to receive a booster dose.
"They can do this by visiting any walk-in vaccination clinic around the country."
He said a booster dose was particularly recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds who were at higher risk of severe Covid-19 symptoms and hospitalisation.
"This includes those who're immunocompromised or living with a family member who is immunocompromised, and Māori and Pacific rangatahi."
Hipkins said it took so long because MedSafe needed to gather the evidence.
"We've said all along that we want the process around approvals to be robust."
He said he is concerned that booster rates overall appeared to have plateaued, but he thinks this is partly because people are being infected and need to wait before getting a booster dose afterwards.
Bloomfield said 12-15 year olds who are at risk because they are immunocompromised or for some other reason are also eligible for a booster with their GP if they feel that is worth doing, though it was not recommended for those in that age group more widely.
Bloomfield said in winter there was likely to be a baseline of Covid-19 cases alongside the presence of influenza, RSV and other possible illnesses such as measles.
He said unvaccinated people and those who have not got a third booster dose make up a disproportionate number of people in hospitals, and vaccination provides better protection than prior infection. He urged people to get that third dose even if they have been infected.
"Please do make sure you and your whānau are going into winter with as much protection as you can, that way we'll all be doing our bit to make sure the health system is here to care for everyone when they need care."
Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 14,120 new community cases of Covid-19 and a further 23 deaths.